IEM Brazil Open Qualifier starts!
The start of a new season is always an exciting time for CS fans and players. Along with the anticipation of the return of tier one tournaments, comes the numerous open qualifiers for teams and fans to enjoy.
IEM Brazil was announced as the second stop for the IEM circuit in 2023, and NA teams will get two chances to battle through the open qualifier gauntlet to make it to the closed stage. The first of which starts today and the second, and final, chance is the open qualifier next month 11th-12th February. Only one team qualifies for the closed stage from each qualifier, where they will meet recently announced invitees Complexity and paiN in the closed qualifier.
Whilst teams still have time to sign-up and register, which can be done here, looking at the team list it is clear it will be tough competition as multiple ECL and top Advanced teams are ready to duke it out. Nouns and ATK both recently played in the ESL Conference League Season 17 North America competition, with ATK winning a spot at ESL Pro League Season 17, and will be favorites to make a successful run to the closed qualifier.
They are joined in the qualifier by fellow ECL sides Detonate, Disconnected and strife all of whom are yet to play this season. Whilst the other two ECL teams signed up (At the time of writing) Mythic and timbermen are both currently 0-1 in the league after losses in their opening matchups. Some notable Advanced squads are joining the ECL teams, including Noah "Nifty" Francis' 40RMULA who are currently 2-1 in Advanced, X13 and Owen "SummY" Mustard's Take Flyte who are both flying high with a 4-0 start in the league.
A noticeable omission is any of the Evil Genius's teams, with their main side still in Europe for BLAST Spring Groups they are set to miss the first qualifier for Brazil and will be left with only one chance to make it to the closed qualifier. One can presume that the other two EG teams are not entering in order to allow the main side to participate in the second qualifier.
The action is set to kick off today at 06:00PM with sign-ups closing fifteen minutes beforehand.
